Glossary

Mobile Device Management

Mobile device management (MDM) is a type of security system that allows an organization to manage how mobile devices can access their technology, systems, and information. MDM can be used across multiple types of mobile devices, including various form factors, operating systems, and devices, whether they are issued by the organization itself, or an employee’s personal device used under a “Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)” approach,

Mobile device management allows a security team to monitor, manage, secure, filter, and audit how specific mobile devices are allowed to access networks, systems, applications, and data. MDM software is often used alongside other mobile software to provide an end-to-end mobility solution, especially in large businesses and enterprises.

MDM provides robust device management that enforces security policies and allows for fine control over if, how, when, and where devices can access sensitive systems and networks. In most cases, MDM works by installing specific software or a security token on a mobile device. When that device attempts to connect to the network, the MDM software identifies the smartphone or tablet and uses filtering and algorithms to demand authentication and provide access. MDM can easily be used alongside multifactor authentication and other authorization to identify and validate users and devices for access.

MDM is particularly useful with the growing “Bring Your Own Device” approach, as it can grant access to any type of device provided that a security token or other identifier is present on the user’s hardware.